Freight Shipping Companies Wollongong Australia

International freight shipping in Wollongong is a complex procedure that requires the services of an international freight forwarder.

A freight forwarder is essentially a company or a person whose duties are to organize shipments of corporations or individuals, and to get large orders from manufacturers to the market or to the final point of distribution.

Freight Shipping Company in Wollongong contract carriers to facilitate the shipment of goods. The forwarder himself is not a carrier per se, but is skilled in supply chain management. Basically, these forwarders can be thought of as a travel agency for the cargo industry or as a third party logistics provider.

Australian Freight Shipping Service Wollongong

Freight Shipping can be booked for a whole host of carrier types, which include ships, trucks, planes and railroads. Some shipments can use multiple carrier types on route before it reaches its designated destination.

Freight shipping in Wollongong calls for very specific documentation as it has to go through multiple custom checks before being allowed to pass through. The forwarder would organize the carriage of your international shipment, along with helping the handling and processing of all the necessary paperwork. International forwarders also make sure that your shipment is arriving at the correct place at the specified time.

An international freight Company in Wollongong should traditionally guide you through the complicated process of international shipping, as they are the experts on the international freight shipping process. This way you can understand and aid your shipment and your freight forwarding company can benefit from this information.

A day in the life of a freight forwarder would consist of the following tasks:

The primary task of a Freight Shipping Company at work would be conversations and negotiations with clients and warehouses that they deal with worldwide. This is because they need to gather information for the purpose of passing it on to the concerned parties that they are doing business with or need to report to as authorities. These would include an SSL – Steam Ship Line, the United States Customs or they might even be the customer themselves.

International Discount Freight Shipping in Australia

Though sea freight shipping has proven to be the most effective, efficient and economic way of transporting heavy and bulky consignments over long distances, it also has a share of it shortcomings. The disadvantages that relate to sea transport shipping do not however render it as an inefficient service. They only become shortcomings when rated against other modes of transport which can score better in the field of transport. The following are some of the disadvantages that an individual may encounter when using sea freight shipping services.

Sea freight shipping is always considered as a slower means of transport when compared to road and air transport. This is due to the bulk of goods and the weight that it carries. Shipping consignments from one place to another, especially over long distances can take a considerable amount of time to arrive at the destination. Depending on how long the journey is, sea freight shipping can take even a couple of months. This makes sea freight shipping unsuitable when dealing with consignments that are very urgent. One would therefore have to resort to other means like road and air freight. Perishable goods cannot be transported via sea freight shipping especially where there are no special services like refrigeration. The goods may therefore reach their destination when they are stale.

Sea freight shipping is only suitable for heavy and bulky consignments. When dealing with smaller consignments, it will prove to be ineffective. This is because sea transport shipping has a minimum requirement for cargo that has to be transported. It sets the minimum load that one can transport using this service. This means that a consignee who has cargo that is below the minimum cargo requirement will have to pay extra rates to cover for the space and weight that is not utilized. In such a case, air freight can be deemed to be much appropriate.

In the recent times, sea freight shipping has been under the threat of pirates. The pirates hijack a ship together with its cargo and demand for a ransom before releasing it. This can take a considerable long duration before the ship is released. This will mean that there will be disruptions in the normal running of a business if the cargo on board was meant for business. For instance, if one was importing goods for sale in the local market, it means that the stock will be held up for long before the ship is released. Furthermore, goods that are perishable will end up going stale and this will be a big loss to the consignee. The threat of piracy has impacted negatively on the safety of sea transport shipping.

Another great disadvantage of sea freight shipping is that in case of an accident, it is always impossible to retrieve the cargo. Most of the consignment is unrecoverable as it sinks in the deep seas. In other cases, consignments like crude oil can cause water pollution when it spills into the sea in case of an accident. This therefore leads to environmental degradation and poses a threat to aquatic life.

Australian Freight Shipping Service Wollongong Australia

What do you need to know about shipping freight internationally? We've got a few common questions (and answers) here.

1. What is Ocean Freight?

Most freight shipped intercontinental is transported via sea vessel in containers. This is rarely the only component to international shipping however. A reference to ocean freight cost usually refers only to the cost associated with the actual ocean-crossing portion of the shipment. Transportation of the freight to and from container yards at the ports of origin and destination is provided by trucks and are not part of an ocean freight charge. (Depending upon the destination country, a freight transportation management service can provide assistance with inland transportation after the container is unloaded at the port as well.)

2. Surcharges in Ocean Freight

Additional charges included in an international ocean freight price quote will generally include basic sea freight charges to cover the port-to-port transportation, a fuel surcharge, security charges, documentation fees and container delivery charges.

3. What is a Container Yard (CY)?

A Container Yard (CY) is a facility at which loaded and empty freight containers are accepted for loading onboard vessels. Containers are also off-loaded and stored at CYs.

4. What is FOB?

FOB stands for Free on Board. It is used to indicate when liability and ownership of goods is transferred from a seller to a buyer. In international shipping, "FOB [name of originating port]" means that the seller (consignor) is responsible for transportation of the goods to the port of shipment and the cost of loading. The buyer (consignee) pays the costs of ocean freight, insurance, unloading, and transportation from the arrival port to the final destination. The seller passes the risk to the buyer when the goods are loaded at the originating port.

5. What is "Live Load" and "Drop and Pick"?

When getting a price quote for international shipping, specifically for ocean freight, a shipper should be sure to know the difference between live load and drop and pick. Pricing and responsibilities are different with each option.

In a live load arrangement, a driver will transport an empty freight container to the shipper. After the shipper loads the container, the driver will secure and seal the container for transport. There is generally a time limit in which the load must be completed without additional cost.

If a shipper chooses a drop and pick, the driver will deliver a freight container, leaving it for a few days. After it is loaded, the driver is called back to retrieve it and take it to the appropriate container yard (CY). This option is generally more expensive unless the loading location is very close to the CY.

6. What are the necessary shipping documents used in international shipping?

The international shipping experts at a freight transportation management service can assist any shipper with all shipping documents required by a carrier and/or by law.

Some common documents required in an international shipment are bill of lading (BOL), a commercial invoice or valued inventory list, packing list with pieces, weight and packing materials described, fumigation certificate, visa/quota, certificate of origin, hazardous materials declaration and other legal documents.

7. What is an ocean freight Bill of Lading?

An Ocean Freight Bill of Lading (BOL) is a document issued by the carrier indicating that certain goods have been received on board for transport to a specific place and consignee. The BOL is legally significant because it represents the contract between carrier and shipper. It also serves as receipt and document of title to the goods.

8. What is SED (Shipper's Export Declaration)?

Many shippers must also complete a Shipper's Export Declaration or SED. An SED is a form used by the U.S. Government to compile export statistics for the country. Certain shipments are exempt from reporting. The form is available from the U.S. Census Department. Ask your freight transportation management service for more information on SEDs.

9. Is ocean freight insured?

Most ocean freight carriers contractually limit their liability for damage to cargo. The dollar limitation varies from carrier to carrier but is typically relatively low. A shipper should be sure to find out exactly what the limitation is before shipping.

The shipper should then probably purchase extra insurance for the shipment prior to tendering the cargo to the carrier. Questions about coverage and insurance certificates can be answered by your service representative.

International shipping quotes are easily available through our web-based freight transportation management service online quoting system. After a shipper has had the opportunity to compare available shipping options, any additional questions can be handled directly by our experienced personnel.